I like to clip coupons—but I don’t always use them. Don’t get me wrong, I think coupons are WONDERFUL. Every couple of weeks I’ll make a very good effort at sifting through my stack of coupons and writing a list before heading to the grocery store. I even signed up with Coupon Mom. Most of the time, however, the coupons sit on my desk, in a drawer or, sometimes, even in the car.

So going through the mail stacked on my desk over the weekend I wasn’t overly enthused by the booklet from my local grocery store. Just more coupons I’ll toss in the recycle bin, I thought. To my surprise, the booklet was full of coupons for stuff I actually use. It seems using the grocery store value card has done more than just take a few bucks off my grocery bill. It has been secretly tracking my purchases—the foods and brands I purchase most often. Now I have roughly $15 worth of savings for next week’s grocery shopping. And you can bet those coupons will make it to the register.

Offering your tenants coupons is a great way to entice them to buy because a discount always makes a product more enticing. If you sell moving supplies like boxes and tape, why not offer a buy one get one half off coupon? How about pay three months now, get half off your fourth month? Are you partnering with nearby business to cross-promote? Maybe you have a tenant with whom you can partner.

But don’t think you can create a word document on the computer, print it out on colored paper and, voila, you have a coupon people will use. According to an article in the ISS archives by Fred Gleeck, coupons must be well designed and tracked to ensure they’re working. If you use mailers like Val-Pak, read this article for tips on creating eye-catching headlines and how to highlight your facility’s features. 

Like the coupons from my local grocery store, you want your tenants to be compelled to use them. So $5 off a $50 retail supply purchase isn’t a good one. Five bucks off a $25 purchase is better. Plus, if you offer other services or products—like mailboxes and packing supplies—coupons can be a great way to get the word out.

In these tough economic times, everyone is looking to save a few bucks. Offering your tenants a discount, even a small one, will ensure they turn to you for their storage needs now and in the future.

If your facility offers coupons, we’d like to hear from you. Click on the post comment button to share what’s worked—and what hasn’t—for you.